A former school principal at a Christian school in Franklin Parish has been indicted by a grand jury on eleven counts of sexual misconduct. District Attorney Mack Lancaster says 41-year-old Stephen Couch of Winnsboro was a teacher, later a principal, at the Apostolic Tabernacle Christian School in Winnsboro when the alleged crimes occurred.
Lancaster says that Couch was indicted in 'five counts of molestation of a juvenile" and "six counts of prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and a student.' He says the crimes with the male victims who attended the school, stretch back years. According to Lancaster, the events occurred prior to Couch becoming a principal.
All the victims were aged 14 to 18 at the time the alleged offenses occurred. Lancaster says he knows many of them and their families and finds it hard to believe a trusted member of the community would commit such crimes.
Stephen Couch is the son of the Reverend Michael Couch, who serves as the director and president of the church. An arraignment hearing for Stephen Couch will be held in March.